Genome wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of HD-ZIP gene family in Cucumis sativus L. under biotic and various abiotic stresses

Information retrieved from genomic assembly may provide important clues and various molecular aspects in plants. Our research identified 40 CsHDZ genes in the Cucumber genome database. Subsequently; we performed the conserved motif and domain analysis of CsHDZ proteins. The phylogeny of the CsHDZ proteins further divides into 4 subfamilies (HD-ZIP I, HD-ZIP II, HD-ZIP III, and HD-ZIP IV) based on the structural similarities and func-tional diversities. The GO (Gene ontology) analysis of CsHDZ proteins showed that they are responsive to envi-ronmental stimuli and involved in numerous growth and developmental processes. The qRT-PCR analysis of 11 CsHDZ genes showed that they are expressed in all the tested tissues of cucumber. The differential expression pat-tern of CsHDZ genes unfolded their possible involvement in responding to various abiotic stresses and powdery mildew stress. It has been found that the CsHDZ22 localized in the nucleus which possibly participates in the reg-ulatory mechanisms of various biological and cellular processes. In the light of above-mentioned outcomes, it has been deducted that CsHDZ genes in the Cucumis sativus genome play an important role in mediating the resis-tance to various abiotic stresses and powdery mildew stress as well as provide significant clues for functional studies. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.